airtightness measurements

For an ideal building airtightness test, the pressure difference between inside and outside would be constant over time and uniform along the entire building envelope, so that each leakage is equally considered and that the test result does not depend on the test conditions. This is particularly challenging for high-rise buildings as they are more subject to strong stack effects: the temperature difference between inside and outside induces a pressure difference along the envelope directly proportional to its height.

Purpose of the work

Purpose of the work

Clear and substantiated instructions for airtightness measurements of high-rise buildings, taking into account the particular requirements resulting from building height

Content of the contribution

The current French EP regulation called “RT 2012” imposes a maximum airtightness level2 of residential buildings envelope: 0.6 m³.h^-1.m^-2 for single-family houses and 1 m³.h^-1.m^-2 for multi- family buildings. The respect of these requirements must be justified either with an airtightness test of each building or by the application of a certified quality management approach on the building airtightness. In both cases, airtightness tests must be performed by a third-party tester, qualified by the certification body, Qualibat.

Purpose of the work

Many ventilation systems do not work efficiently, because their airflow rates have not been correctly adjusted and due to leakages of the ventilation ducts and individual elements.

Method of approach

Different measuring devices are used to evaluate and adjust the flow rates, to conduct airtightness tests with differential pressure measurements of ventilation systems or their parts, as well as to search for leakages of ventilation components.

Content of the contribution

Purpose of the work

Since 2008 in France, all measurement of building envelope airtightness performed according to the EP-regulations have to be performed by a certified operator. This certification includes a yearly follow-up we use to build up a highly detailed database which includes data of about 90,000 airtightness measurements.

Method of approach

Purpose of the work

The presentation provides background information on the calibration of airtightness testing devices.

Content of the presentation

Large buildings can not always be tested as a single pressure zone. In Europe, different approaches have been proposed concerning the choice of representative parts of the building (sampling method) and the compliance check in situations, when several parts of the building have to be tested separately. The preliminary Czech standard TNI 73 0330 defines a sampling method, as well as subsequent treatment of results and compliance check procedures for multifamily residential buildings. This contribution reports the results of a trial test of TNI 73 0330 method.